Discussion Board 1
BUSI 620
Liberty University
What is the difference between unethical and unlawful behavior? Please provide examples
for both behaviors in your discussion.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a continuing commitment by businesses to contribute
to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families
as well as of the community and society as a whole. I agree that “business only has one social
Business ethics are “the code or guidelines that prescribe acceptable behavior in business
behavior and business transactions” (Salvatore, 2012).
Ethical behavior tends to be good for business and involves demonstrating respect for key moral
principles that include honesty, fairness, equality, dignity, diversity and individual rights. Ethics
can be important for many reasons over lots of issues such as; privacy and identity protection,
hiring practices, censorship, equality, safety, harassment, to name a few. “In business, ethics is
about managing risks as an organization, no matter what individual beliefs or standards are”
(Watson, 2013).
Unethical behavior is just the opposite as an action that falls outside of what is considered
morally right or proper for a person, a profession or an industry. Not only can individuals act
unethically businesses, professionals as well as politicians. An example of unethical behavior is
the Enron disaster. “Unethical” is what one’s culture and environment considers to be wrong. An
illegal deed is always unethical while an unethical action may or may not be illegal. The
perception of ethics may differ in different conditions.
According to Milton Friedman, "Business has only one social responsibility – to make
profits (as long as it stays within the legal and moral rules of the game established by
society). Few trends could so thoroughly undermine the very foundations of our society as
the acceptance by corporate officials of a social responsibility other than to make as much
money for their stockholders as possible." Explain why you agree or disagree with such a
statement.
References
responsibility which is to make profits” due to there are investors who are counting on making
money when they invest in a company, if a company does not make money then they will not last
long. This being said, it is very important to steer clear of corruption within the business. “The
business community should work against corruption in all existing forms, including bribery and
extortion. Legal responsibilities. Legal responsibility should be aimed at improving the
enforcement of the legal framework of the territory in which the company markets”
(Madrakhimova, 2013). As stated in Leviticus 19:11, “You shall not steal; you shall not deal
falsely; you shall not lie to one another”.
English Standard Version. 10/22/2014. Retrieved from www.biblegateway.com
Madrakhimova, F. S. (2013). EVOLUTION OF THE CONCEPT AND DEFINITION OF
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. Paper presented at the, 8(2) 113-118.
Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1434203570?accountid=12085
Salvatore, D. (2012). The nature and scope of managerial economics. Managerial economics in a
global economy (7th Ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Watson, G. W. (2013). Organizational Ethical Behavior. Hauppauge, NY, USA: Nova Science
Publishers, Inc... Retrieved from http://www.ebrary.com
